4 encryption – ZyXEL Communications P-2302HWL-P1 Series User Manual
Page 91
P-2302HW/HWL-P1 Series User’s Guide
Chapter 5 Wireless LAN
91
Unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless network,
even if they cannot use the wireless network. Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized
wireless users to get a valid user name and password. Then, they can use that user name and
password to use the wireless network.
5.2.4 Encryption
Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the wireless
network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot
understand the message.
The types of encryption you can choose depend on the type of authentication. (See
for information about this.)
For example, if the wireless network has a RADIUS server, you can choose WPA or WPA2. If
users do not log in to the wireless network, you can choose no encryption, Static WEP, WPA-
PSK, or WPA2-PSK.
Usually, you should set up the strongest encryption that every device in the wireless network
supports. For example, suppose you have a wireless network with the ZyXEL Device. The
ZyXEL Device does not have a local user database, and you do not have a RADIUS server.
Therefore, there is no authentication. Suppose the wireless network has two devices. Device A
only supports WEP, and device B supports WEP and WPA. Therefore, you should set up
Static WEP in the wireless network.
Note: It is recommended that wireless networks use WPA-PSK, WPA, or stronger
encryption. IEEE 802.1x and WEP encryption are better than none at all, but it
is still possible for unauthorized wireless devices to figure out the original
information pretty quickly.
When you select WPA2 or WPA2-PSK in your ZyXEL Device, you can also select an option
(WPA compatible) to support WPA as well. In this case, if some of the devices support WPA
and some support WPA2, you should set up WPA2-PSK or WPA2 (depending on the type of
wireless network login) and select the WPA compatible option in the ZyXEL Device.
Many types of encryption use a key to protect the information in the wireless network. The
longer the key, the stronger the encryption. Every device in the wireless network must have the
same key.
Table 32 Types of Encryption for Each Type of Authentication
No Authentication
RADIUS Server
Weakest
None
Static WEP
WPA-PSK
WPA
Strongest
WPA2-PSK
WPA2